Biological Nano Materials (NANO*4100)
Code and section: NANO*4100*01
Term: Fall 2022
Instructor: Vladimir Ladizhansky
Details
Course Information
Instruction
Instructor | Office | |
---|---|---|
Vlad Ladizhansky | SSC 1251 | vladizha@uoguelph.ca |
Office Hours: Please contact the instructor directly.
Lectures
Day | Time | Location |
---|---|---|
Tue/Thu, | 8:30 am-9:50 am | MCKN, Room 059 |
*First lecture: Thursday, September 8th
Course Materials
Recommended Texts
There is no required text for this course. The following texts may be useful:
- Jones, Soft Machines: Nanotechnology and Life
- Lodish et al, Molecular Cell Biology
- Creighton, Proteins: Structure and Molecular Properties
- Additional literature (papers, lecture notes, links to online materials, etc.) will be distributed.
Topics
- Biological molecules and interactions
- Review of basic chemistry concepts. Covalent and non-covalent interactions. Types of interactions- electrostatics, van der Waals interactions, hydrophobicity, steric effects, solvation. Electronegativity, hydrogen bonding, pH.
- Amino acids and their properties. Primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary structure of proteins. Factors and interactions determining the different levels of structure.
- Nucleic acids. Structures of DNA and RNA. Interactions determining nucleic acid structures. Watson-Crick base pairing.
- Molecular self-assembly
- Formation of detergent micelles. Formation of lipid bilayers and liposomes. Biological membranes. Membrane proteins.
- Molecular “nanomachines”: ATPases, ion channels, and transporters, molecular motors.
- Peptide and protein misfolding. Formation of amyloid fibrils and lessons that can be learned from this – novel peptide based nanomaterials with applications.
- Nanobiomaterials with applications.
- DNA nanotechnologies. Metallic nanoparticle-based nanobiomaterials. Imaging and contrast agents. Semiconductor-, ceramic-, protein-, polymer-based nanobiomaterials. Biologically-directed/self-assembled nanobiomaterials. Viruses. Biosensors.
Student Evaluation
Assessment | Weight |
---|---|
Assignments | 20% |
Quizzes | 6% |
Presentations Students will be asked to give three presentations. Topics for presentations will be distributed in advance. |
45% |
Papers/Projects Students will have to write a research proposal based on one of their presentations. |
25% |
Participation in discussions | 4% |
Course Policies
Course Assessment by Students
The Department of Physics requires student assessment of all courses taught by the Department. These assessments provide essential feedback to faculty on their teaching by identifying both strengths and possible areas of improvement. In addition, annual student assessment of teaching provides part of the information used by the Department Tenure and Promotion Committee in evaluating the faculty member's contribution in the area of teaching.
The Department's teaching evaluation questionnaire invites student response both through numerically quantifiable data, and written student comments. In conformity with University of Guelph Faculty Policy, the Department Tenure and Promotions Committee only considers comments signed by students. Your instructor will see all signed and unsigned comments after final grades are submitted. Written student comments may also be used in support of a nomination for internal and external teaching awards.
NOTE: No information will be passed on to the instructor until after the final grades have been submitted.
University Statements
COVID-19 Disclaimer
Please note that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic may necessitate a revision of the format of course offerings and academic schedules. Any such changes will be announced via CourseLink and/or class email. All University-wide decisions will be posted on the COVID-19 website and circulated by email.
Illness
The University will not normally require verification of illness (doctor's notes) for fall 2020 or winter 2021 semester courses. However, requests for Academic Consideration may still require medical documentation as appropriate.
Email Communication
As per university regulations, all students are required to check their e-mail account regularly: e-mail is the official route of communication between the University and its students.
When You Cannot Meet a Course Requirement
When you find yourself unable to meet an in-course requirement because of illness or compassionate reasons please advise the course instructor (or designated person, such as a teaching assistant) in writing, with your name, id#, and e-mail contact. The grounds for Academic Consideration are detailed in the Undergraduate and Graduate Calendars.
Drop Date
Students will have until the last day of classes to drop courses without academic penalty. The deadline to drop two-semester courses will be the last day of classes in the second semester. This applies to all students (undergraduate, graduate and diploma) except for Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Associate Diploma in Veterinary Technology (conventional and alternative delivery) students. The regulations and procedures for course registration are available in their respective Academic Calendars. Undergraduate Calendar - Dropping Courses
Copies of Out-of-class Assignments
Keep paper and/or other reliable back-up copies of all out-of-class assignments: you may be asked to resubmit work at any time.
Accessibility
The University promotes the full participation of students who experience disabilities in their academic programs. To that end, the provision of academic accommodation is a shared responsibility between the University and the student. When accommodations are needed, the student is required to first register with Student Accessibility Services (SAS). Documentation to substantiate the existence of a disability is required; however, interim accommodations may be possible while that process is underway. Accommodations are available for both permanent and temporary disabilities. It should be noted that common illnesses such as a cold or the flu do not constitute a disability. Use of the SAS Exam Centre requires students to book their exams at least 7 days in advance and not later than the 40th Class Day.
Academic Integrity
The University of Guelph is committed to upholding the highest standards of academic integrity, and it is the responsibility of all members of the University community-faculty, staff, and students-to be aware of what constitutes academic misconduct and to do as much as possible to prevent academic offences from occurring. University of Guelph students have the responsibility of abiding by the University's policy on academic misconduct regardless of their location of study; faculty, staff, and students have the responsibility of supporting an environment that encourages academic integrity. Students need to remain aware that instructors have access to and the right to use electronic and other means of detection. Please note: Whether or not a student intended to commit academic misconduct is not relevant for a finding of guilt. Hurried or careless submission of assignments does not excuse students from responsibility for verifying the academic integrity of their work before submitting it. Students who are in any doubt as to whether an action on their part could be construed as an academic offence should consult with a faculty member or faculty advisor. Undergraduate Calendar - Academic Misconduct
Recording of Materials
Presentations that are made in relation to course work - including lectures - cannot be recorded or copied without the permission of the presenter, whether the instructor, a student, or guest lecturer. Material recorded with permission is restricted to use for that course unless further permission is granted.
Resources
The Academic Calendars are the source of information about the University of Guelph’s procedures, policies, and regulations that apply to undergraduate, graduate, and diploma programs. Academic Calendars